The Government of Canada will hold a state funeral today for the Right Honourable John Napier Wyndham Turner, who passed away on September 19th at the age of 91.
A church service will be held starting at 11 this morning at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica in Toronto.
The ceremony is by invitation only and will strictly follow public health COVID-19 protocols on mask wearing, sanitizing, physical distancing and congregating.
State funerals and national commemorative ceremonies are public events that are typically held to honour special Canadians, members of the royal family and citizens from another country who have had an impact on Canada.
Only 31 state funerals have been held in Canada since Confederation in 1867 and the last one was held in 2000 for for the late Pierre Trudeau.
The family has asked for donations to be made to the World Wildlife Fund Canada and the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation.
For more details on the service or to send condolences, please click here.
LIVE: State funeral for John Turner
EN DIRECT : Funérailles d’État de John Turner#cdnpoli #polcan https://t.co/1jvAR5dDsM
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) October 6, 2020